Google Earth Decoder update

Description:

For those who create scenery addons based on MSFS Google Earth tiles, there is a fantastic tool called Google Earth Decoder Tool, created by Johanex111.

The problem here is that this tool has no Github repository, and is not maintained anymore by its author.

Google Earth tiles evolve, and it is now necessary to ensure that the data retrieved are the latest ones (even in some rare case, the latest data can remove some existing tiles).

When you use the Google Earth decoder tool, the tiles retrieved are not necessarily the last ones available on Google servers.

To fix it, i created a fork of the GoogleMapsTools.dll used by the Google Earth Decoder tool, that ensure you to retrieve the last version of the Google Earth tiles.

I used it, for instance, for my Antwerpen scenery, to retrieve the correct tiles for the center of the city (because the original Google Earth Decoder dll retrieved older tiles that did not contain photogrammetry data).

Installation:

Install Google Earth Decoder. Download the archive in the main file, then extract Common.dll and GoogleMapsTools.dll to the Google Earth Decoder folder (the folder containing Earth2MsfsWPF.exe). Make sure to backup first the oldest dll, in case the last version of the Google Earth data remove the tiles you want to download (it is a very rare case, but it is possible).

Credits:
Google Maps, hence all 3D credits for the 3d data goes to Google.
Google Earth Decoder tool (credits to /u/Jonahex111) https://www.reddit.com/r/FS2020Creation/comments/j3faaj/google_earth_decoder_now_userfriendly/

Hi there, I just replaced the original dll with this one and it's working while the first did not: I can see downloaded file in the right folder. Sadly when working in SDK the Scenery Editor only shows "Unknown*" instead of file names. Does anyone have the same issue?

2 months ago

NickHole65

its working perfectly with max detail again, thank you so much! I'll keep checking for updates

mitch9

Seems to be working perfectly fine with your update right now. The resulting scenery should never be used in the MSFS directly as its hideous in terms of performance (drawcalls are in the high thousands with the way the scenery is exported), but that is an issue of the base program, not your update. As a middle step for exporting GMaps to Blender this works really well!

4 months ago

AccAkut

You are a superhero, man! Thank you so much for the update

7 months ago

Lucaspilot95

Thanks this is just the update I have been waiting for. My area has been available in 3D for a while but I could not download it until today.

Great work Thalixte.

1 years ago

cyrano

The update is great, thanks. What bothers me is that with the Google Earth Decoder there is no more ground and you can't land anywhere. I then always revised it with the blender and it worked great. Exactly that no longer works, the blender partially destroys tiles and rips holes in the scenery. This is not due to the Google Earth decoder, I tested that. If I finish the scenery with the decoder and put it straight into the community folder then everything is fine except there are ghost floors which I don't like. I usually run it through the blender after that, but as I said, it's partially destroying the tiles now, does anyone know why this is?

toshie27

Excellent ! Many thanks. I just did the Tokyo Olympic Stadium, and it worked perfectly !

EnjoyItFly

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!

Vizipok

Hi, thank you for keeping this add-on working. I'm wondering if you have been able to edit the tile geometry in Blender after the download in order to trim the 3D model to only the parts you want instead of entire tiles? I've tried this in the past but when I export the edited gltf it does not work OK in MSFS, only the originals work.

11 days ago

To do this, the best you can do is to use my Blender addon: https://github.com/Thalixte/Google-Earth-Decoder-Optimization-Tools/releases/download/v2.0.6/Google-Earth-Decoder-Optimization-Tools.zip Here is the doc (still in WIP): https://thalixte.github.io/Google-Earth-Decoder-Optimization-Tools/

Thalixte

Marionettework

Before installing it, I would like to congratulate you for your talent and creativity. Thank you for give us the chance of improve the MSFS. Thanks to share with all, your knowledge and time.
I hope for you my best wishes.

12 days ago

You're very welcome.

1 More Odpowiedzi

alexmaq

How do I align the scenery? I have one scenery square that goes from right to left, and another from left to right, or up to down and down to up (Horizontal or vertical), making the edges crooked. How do I get the alignment straightened up?

15 days ago

Use my tools: https://flightsim.to/file/26245/google-earth-decoder-optimization-tools-gedot-blender-addon. Also, i suggest you to use 17 as min LOD, and 19/20 as max LOD.

James1976

Nice update Thalixte. Now I need to learn how to use it.

21 days ago

Thks a lot. Just copy the dll inside the Google Earth Decoder folder, replacing the original one.

cianpars

hello, google earth apparently recently had an update, where it introduced 3D buildings in my Hometown, but i cant get it to work. maybe you have to update?

i did try with a building that has had 3D for a longer time outside of my hometown, and it worked well! i don't see my hometown (worms) in the google earth 3d coverage overlay but it clearly has 3D buildings.

22 days ago

Hello. What is your hometown ?

suskey

The first shot with the 3 easyjet places is from 6/2022 and thats what downloads - the 2nd shot is from 4/2023 and thats what doesn't download

Images from Aberdeen Airport, Scotland

Ok, i updated the tools. Can you check if it works, please ? Best regards

1 months ago

Angelus1701

HI
Update 1.3 is not picking up the latest images from Google Earth. Can you update your dll please.

Hi. Will check as soon as i can. Have you got an area where i can check the last update ?

Since this is the last of the updates you mentioned, will Google Earth on the web be updated now and then?

Yes, there are chance that they will be updated, but i don't know when...

its not working for me either; i need to get the most detailed tiles (not for msfs) but it will only let me download form lod 2 upwards, and it only downloads the plain tiles, no photogrametry (yes the area im trying to download has photogrametry, ive done this many times before).
Could you post a guide on how you patched the old dll?

Choose 17-19 as lod levels. Also, make sure to retrieve my last update from today. Best regards

Worked great last year but doesn't seem to work with the new 3D imagery updates such as Caloundra in Australia

Just uploaded a new update that should fix your issue.

moonshadowvfx

I totally agree with you. That's why i developped my own tools in order to optimize those retrieved photogrammetry data: https://flightsim.to/file/26245/google-earth-decoder-optimization-tools-gedot-blender-addon. Also, consider using 17-19 for LODs settings, in order not to use too much detailed lod models. But, surprisingly, MSFS 2020 is able to remain smooth, even with a big amount of drawcalls. Best regards

Hello. I am in hollidays now. As soon as i can, will make the update.

Best regards,

When will we expect a 1.3 update? Google Maps alredy got the maps updated.

Odkryj

Google Earth Decoder update

Google Earth Decoder update

Najnowsze zmiany for 1.6

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